5 Ways To Become A Morning Person

A Hong Kong health coach's secrets to waking up happy

Are you a morning person or a night owl? Sleeping patterns can often become a defining character trait, but you weren’t born that way. It’s 100 percent habitual, which means that it can be changed.

An early start has many benefits, from increased productivity and getting ahead on your to-do list, to having more time for yourself and your family before heading off to work. If you’re someone who struggles to get up in the morning, here are a few helpful tips:

1. Eat a delicious breakfast

Having a tasty breakfast to look forward to will help you get out of bed: an omelette, smoothie, oatmeal—whatever gets you going. And if that includes the smell of coffee brewing, go for it.

2. Have something to “do”

Whether you like to work out, meditate, meet a friend for an early breakfast, read the newspaper or call your mom, having a task you want to complete first thing will give you the motivation to ditch the sheets a little earlier.

3. Create a routine that you enjoy

Mornings are a special time to spend alone or enjoy the company of loved ones before your day officially begins. In my house, we put on our comfiest robes, listen to music, make smoothies, meditate (on a good day) and just hang. I used to rush off to the gym or a yoga class, but this relaxed time in the morning is now my favourite part of the day.

4. Set a bedtime

It’s not rocket science—if you go to bed late, you'll wake up late. Establish a “lights out” time, when you turn the TV off, brush your teeth and start to turn in. If you try to get to bed between 10 and 11pm, a 6-7am start is totally doable.

5. Swap your alarm for sunshine

There’s nothing better than waking up to natural light. Toss the blackout blinds and let the sun wake you. That said, having total darkness is important for a deep sleep, so I recommend wearing an eye mask if there are bright lights outside of your window.

There are other factors that make it harder to wake up in the morning, like food intolerances and hormonal imbalances. A healthy diet will help you sleep more deeply and efficiently, so you wake up feeling rested. If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.

Mia is a licensed Holistic Health Coach from the Institute of Integrated Nutrition, and holds diplomas in Classic Culinary Arts from The French Culinary Institute, and English Literature from UC Santa Barbara.

Mia is a licensed Holistic Health Coach from the Institute of Integrated Nutrition, and holds diplomas in Classic Culinary Arts from The French Culinary Institute, and English Literature from UC Santa Barbara.